“BALAK/Balak”

SHALOM!

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Balak/Balak — בלק

TORAH:

Numbers 22:2-25:9

HAFTARAH/HAFTORAH (including PROPHETS or WRITINGS) – PROPHETS:

Micah 5:6-6:8

BRIT CHADASHAH (a.k.a NEW COVENANT/TESTAMENT) – GOSPEL:

Matthew 21:1-11

Note: The regular readings above are often interrupted with special readings on Jewish holidays, special Sabbaths, and Rosh Chodesh. Refer to the annual Torah Portion schedule for these special portions.

Portion Summary

Balak (Balak, בלק) was the name of a Moabite king in the days of Moses. It is also the name of the fortieth reading from the Torah. It comes from the second verse of this week’s reading, which says, “Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites” (Numbers 22:2). This week’s Torah reading tells the story of how Balak hires the occult prophet Balaam to lay a curse on Israel. Balaam meets resistance from God, has a conversation with his donkey and ends up blessing Israel instead of cursing them.

Portion Outline

TORAH
- Numbers 22:1 | Balak Summons Balaam to Curse Israel
- Numbers 22:22 | Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel
- Numbers 22:41 | Balaam’s First Oracle
- Numbers 23:13 | Balaam’s Second Oracle
- Numbers 24:1 | Balaam’s Third Oracle
- Numbers 24:15 | Balaam’s Fourth Oracle
- Numbers 25:1 | Worship of Baal of Peor
PROPHETS
- Mic 5:2 | The Ruler from Bethlehem
- Mic 5:7 | The Future Role of the Remnant
- Mic 6:1 | God Challenges Israel
- Mic 6:6 | What God Requires